Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. L. JOHNSTONE.

GAR COUPLING.

Paten ted Oct. 9, 1883.

' GAB. COUPLING.

No. 286,307 Patented Oct. 9, 1883.

N. PETERS. Pwnolmwgnplwr, Washinglon. DJ;

HENRY L.

JOHNSTONE, OF PALMETTO, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 286,307, dated October9, 1883.

Application filed August 23, 1883.

(No model.)

described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an under side plan view of aportion of a truck having myimprovements in position thereon. Fig. 2shows in side elevation the ends of two cars, and in longitudinalsection the car-frames with a portion of my coupling device in positionthereon. Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the coupler andtruck-frame. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of a bar having acoupling locking attachment in position, and also showing a modifiedform of lever for operating the coupling; and Fig. 5 represents a sideelevation, partly broken away, of two cars coupled together and with thecoupling-bars locked together.

A A represent freight or other cars.

B represents the truck -frame.

0 0 represent my improved coupling-bars, each composed of a stem, D,having longitudinal slot a at its rear end, and ahead, E, of

. substantially hook form, shoulder F, flat extreme front ends, G,vertical slot or hole 1), extending from top to bottom, and at or aboutthe centerof its heada transverse slot, 0. The cross-beam H has ahorizontal slot, (1, and a vertical slot, e.

I represents a spring-bar, which at one end is held within the slottedcross-beam H, either by providing said bar with an eye and passing astud or pin, f, through said cross-beam H, the opposite end of saidspring-rod being passed through the slot a and held therein by means ofa pin, g, or by other suitable means.

J represents a hollow boss or projection attached to or formed upon oneof the side beams, within which aspring rod or block, K,

is held, with capability of movement in a direction transversely of thecar-frames. The

outer end of this spring-block impinges against the outside face of thecoupling-bar, and thereby presses its head in close engagement with thehead of the coupling of the adjacent car. By this arrangement, upon thecolnin g together of two cars having my improved form of couplingthereon the heads of the respective couplings will impinge and forceeach other by their impact outwardly, at the same time compressing thespring in the boss J, and on the continued movement of the cars saidcouplingheads will slide along their respective faces until the notchesor hooks h are reached, when the pressure of such heads on each otherbeing relaxed the spring rod or block K will immediately push saidcoupling-heads into engagement with each other, in the manner shown inFig. 1 of the drawings. By forming each coupling-head with a shoulder,F, and square front end, G, and providing the stem D with a spring rodor bar, I, upon which it may move longitudinally, said coupling alsoserves the purpose of a spring-buffer, as upon pressure from any sourcebeing exerted upon the front end of either coupling-head thestem D willslide rearwardly upon the spring-rod I, supporting a the same, whichwill cushion said stem and prevent any shock in the coupling of thecars. As represented in the drawings, the heads of my coupling-bars areof considerably increased depth from top to bottom than is usually thecase. By this means I am enabled to couple together cars of differentheights, as it will make no particular difference whatever whether onecar is higher or lower than the car adjacent thereto, as whatever theposition of the re spective coupling-heads sufficient grappling spacewill always be presented. The trans verse slot 0 in each head E is forthe purpose of permitting the use of said head in coupling an adjacentcar provided with an ordinary link which would pass within said slot 0,and an ordinary coupling pin or bar could then be passed down throughthe slot or hole I) for holding the link in engagement with the head E.

For the purpose of enabling cars having my improvements thereon beinguncoupled from the platform or truck at either side of the cars, I pivotwithin a boss or projection, L, or within any other suitable deviceattached to one of the bottoms of the carframe, a lever, M, having atits lower end a vertical slot, within which the pivoted end of an arm,N, whose opposite end has pivotal or other conneat-ion with the head E.By this means, whein ever it is desired to uncouple the cars thebrakeman or any other person upon grasping said lever and pullingthereon will draw the head E, connected thereto, away from and out ofcontact with the similarly-shaped head engaged therewith. In Figs. 1, 2,and 3 this lever is shown as adapted to be borne downward when operatingthe coupling-head; but it may be arranged so as to operate in a reversedirection, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein such lever is so pivotallyconnected to the framing that upon raising the same upward the head Ewill be retracted from en-- gagement with its adjacent head.

0 represents a rollerjournaled upon the front transverse beam of theframe, or upon a block attached to or depending therefrom, in

order that upon the movement transversely of the coupling-bar said barwill roll thereon and friction will be largely diminished.

To provide for the natural oscillation of cars in transit and preventsuch oscillation causing the cars to become uncoupled, I hinge to anysuitable part of one of the heads E a locking frame or box, 1?, havingside plates, j, and top plate, 70. To the top plate, 70, is attached ahook or ring, I, to which one end of achain. or cord, m, is attached.This chain or cord extends from thence up to and over a sheave orpulley, n, journaled within a bracket, 0, secured to the car. To theopposite end of this chain or cord is attached a weight, 1).

q represents a pocket attached to the end of the car for the purpose ofreceiving the weight when the locking box or frame is in engagement withthe coupling-heads. In Fig. 4 the full lines show this locking deviceout of engagement with the coupling-heads. In dotted lines the lockingdevice is shown in operation. Whenever it is desired to unlock the 40couplings, in order that they may be disen-- gaged, the weight p israised from out of the pocket and allowed to drop down. As said weightfalls it will, draw with it the chain or cord, and thus raise thelockingbox or. frame 5 away fromthe coupler-heads. Similarly when it is desiredto lock the heads together the weight is raised, anchasit rises the boxor frame descends to and automatically clamps the heads together. Whenthis point has been 50 reached, the weight is placed within the pockct,as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A carcouplerhaving angular hook- 5 5 shaped head 0 and slotted stem D, incombination with spring-rod I and means, substantially as described, forretaining the several parts in position.

2. The combination of coupling 0, roller 0, 60 and lever M,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The coupling locking frame or box P, having hook or ring I,incombination with chain or cordm, pulley n, weight 2, and pocko 5 et q,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY L. Jonnsronn \Vituesses:

LUTHER Z. Rossnn, H. M. REID.

